"It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace"

Archive for February, 2011

I preached yesterday on the story of the unnamed Gentile woman who approached Jesus regarding her demon-posssessed daughter. Jesus commended her eventually for her great faith! She kept on begging Jesus despite her “disqualifications”, Jesus’ initial silence, the disciples desire to show her the door, and when Jesus emphasized the primacy of his ministry to Israel. She would not have fit very well in our American culture that is obsessed with what we think we deserve.

I made this observation regarding her request:

“I love this, don’t you? Simple faith, persistent faith! Probably somewhat noisy faith! “Lord, have mercy on me!” She doesn’t demand her rights—like we in our culture are so used to demanding. She doesn’t ask for an entitlement! She asks for divine mercy. As Tim Keller in his new book on Mark writes, ““She’s not saying, “Lord, give me what I deserve on the basis of my goodness.” She’s saying, “Give me what I don’t deserve on the basis of your goodness.–and I need it now.”

“The world is perishing for lack of knowledge. Did any one among us ever lay China on his heart? Your imagination cannot grapple with the population of that mighty empire, without God, without Christ, strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. But it is not China alone; there are other vast nations lying in darkness; the great serpent hath coiled himself around the globe, and who shall set the world free from him?

Reflect upon this one city with its three millions. What sin the moon sees! What sin the Sabbath sees! Alas! for the transgressions of this wicked city. Babylon of old could not have been worse than London is, nor so guilty, for she had not the light that London has received. Brethren, there is no hope for China, no hope for the world, no hope for our own city, while the church is sluggish and lethargic. It is through the church the blessing is bestowed. Christ multiplies the bread, and gives it to the disciples; the multitudes can only get it through the disciples. Oh, it is time, it is high time that the churches were awakened to seek the good of dying myriads. Moreover, brethren, the powers of evil are ever active. We may sleep, but Satan sleepeth never. The church’s plough lies yonder, rusting in the furrow: do you not see it, to your shame? But the plough of Satan goes from end to end of his great field, he leaves no headland, but he ploughs deep whilst sluggish churches sleep. May we be stirred as we see the awful activity of evil spirits and persons who are under their sway.”

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled “Travailing for Souls,” delivered September 3, 1871. via The Daily Spurgeon

As a church we are in a series called “Lord, Change My Attitude”. One of the attitudes we want to put on is contentment!

Do you struggle with discontentment (which one of us doesn’t at times)?

Jared deals with the devil’s strategy in encouraging this wrong attitude in this article. Worth the read. Here’s an excerpt:

“The clearest path to cultivating discontentment in your patient is to speak to him purely in terms of his “rights.” Of course, the Enemy’s missive speaks of right most often as an adjective—right belief, right conduct, righteousness, and the like—not a noun, but you will find your patient’s inward bent susceptible and hospitable to this concept. It should not take much pressing to plant favorably in his heart the idea that he has a right to comfort, to convenience, to material goods, to whatever his appetites and inclinations place their crosshairs on.
The Enemy promises a peace that passes comprehension. Promise your patient instead a peace that passes through consumption. And more consumption. . .”

“Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. ” (Genesis 6:22–7:1, ESV)

“And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him. ” (Genesis 7:5, ESV)

“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. . . ” (Genesis 8:1, ESV)

Noah was not a perfect man, but he’s a hero to me because of his incredible faith and obedience! I want to be like that? In the little things and big steps of faith? How about you?